How do you identify a Japanese Wagtail?

The Japanese wagtail is about 20 cm long. Full identification notes are on this page.

How big is a Japanese Wagtail?

The Japanese Wagtail is a small sized bird weighing about 30 g.

Where can you see a Japanese Wagtail?

The Japanese Wagtail occurs in 7 countries, including Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and China.

What birds look similar to a Japanese Wagtail?

The Japanese Wagtail is most easily confused with the Mountain Wagtail, the Madagascar Wagtail and the Mekong Wagtail.

Is the Japanese Wagtail endangered?

The Japanese Wagtail is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

Japanese Wagtail

Motacilla grandis

Wagtails and Pipits · Passeriformes · Uncommon

The Japanese Wagtail (Motacilla grandis) is a uncommon wagtails and pipit found in 7 countries, weighing about 30 g. The Japanese wagtail is a species of bird in the pipit and wagtail family Motacillidae.

Least ConcernUncommonEats invertebratesriverinecup nest30 g

Japanese Wagtail (Motacilla grandis), photo 1 — Photo: nubobo from Iwata, Shizuoka, Japan · CC BY 2.0

Japanese Wagtail (Motacilla grandis), photo 2 — Photo: ノボホショコロトソ · CC BY 4.0

Japanese Wagtail (Motacilla grandis), photo 3 — Photo: ノボホショコロトソ · CC BY 4.0

Japanese Wagtail (Motacilla grandis), photo 4 — Photo: ノボホショコロトソ · CC BY 4.0

Japanese Wagtail (Motacilla grandis), photo 5 — Photo: ノボホショコロトソ · CC BY 4.0

Japanese Wagtail (Motacilla grandis), photo 6 — Photo: ノボホショコロトソ · CC BY 4.0

Japanese Wagtail (Motacilla grandis), photo 7 — Photo: ノボホショコロトソ · CC BY 4.0

Japanese Wagtail (Motacilla grandis), photo 8 — Photo: Rijksmuseum · CC0

Japanese Wagtail (Motacilla grandis), photo 9 — Photo: (c) Marco Mussita, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC-BY

Japanese Wagtail (Motacilla grandis), photo 10 — Photo: (c) ITÔ, Hiroki, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC-BY

About the Japanese Wagtail

The Japanese wagtail is a species of bird in the pipit and wagtail family Motacillidae. It is native to Japan and Korea.

Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

How to identify it

The Japanese wagtail is about 20 cm long. The sexes look similar; they have white underparts and black upperparts, throats, and backs. Their supercilia are also white. They have black beaks and dark grey legs and feet. The plumage of a juvenile is greyer than that of an adult.

Where it lives

Japan South Korea Taiwan China

Recorded as a rare visitor in Russia, Mongolia, North Korea.

When to see it

Best months: January, February, March, April, May, June, September, October, November, December, with peak activity in December. It is a variable species across most of its range.

Easily confused with

Quick questions

How do you identify a Japanese Wagtail?: The Japanese wagtail is about 20 cm long. Full identification notes are on this page.
How big is a Japanese Wagtail?: The Japanese Wagtail is a small sized bird weighing about 30 g.
Where can you see a Japanese Wagtail?: The Japanese Wagtail occurs in 7 countries, including Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and China.
What birds look similar to a Japanese Wagtail?: The Japanese Wagtail is most easily confused with the Mountain Wagtail, the Madagascar Wagtail and the Mekong Wagtail.
Is the Japanese Wagtail endangered?: The Japanese Wagtail is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

Learn the Japanese Wagtail for real

BeakBrain drills you on photos and calls until you can greet this bird by name in the field. Free to play, on any device.

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